EP0922229B1 - Method for continuous or discontinuous automatic analysing of samples placed in containers - Google Patents

Method for continuous or discontinuous automatic analysing of samples placed in containers Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0922229B1
EP0922229B1 EP98930838A EP98930838A EP0922229B1 EP 0922229 B1 EP0922229 B1 EP 0922229B1 EP 98930838 A EP98930838 A EP 98930838A EP 98930838 A EP98930838 A EP 98930838A EP 0922229 B1 EP0922229 B1 EP 0922229B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
containers
zone
conveyors
movement
pipetting
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP98930838A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0922229A1 (en
Inventor
Alain Rousseau
Jean-François GELIN
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Diagnostica Stago SAS
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Diagnostica Stago SAS
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Priority to DK98930838T priority Critical patent/DK0922229T3/en
Publication of EP0922229A1 publication Critical patent/EP0922229A1/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
    • G01N35/02—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
    • G01N35/026—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
    • G01N35/02—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
    • G01N35/04—Details of the conveyor system
    • G01N2035/0401—Sample carriers, cuvettes or reaction vessels
    • G01N2035/0412—Block or rack elements with a single row of samples
    • G01N2035/0415—Block or rack elements with a single row of samples moving in two dimensions in a horizontal plane
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T436/00—Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
    • Y10T436/11—Automated chemical analysis
    • Y10T436/113332—Automated chemical analysis with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T436/00—Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
    • Y10T436/11—Automated chemical analysis
    • Y10T436/113332—Automated chemical analysis with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack
    • Y10T436/114165—Automated chemical analysis with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack with step of insertion or removal from test line

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for automatic analysis in continuous or discontinuous samples contained in containers such as, for example, test tubes.
  • sample containers are arranged in line in containers or racks each containing several tubes (in general five) vertically oriented in a longitudinal vertical median plane of the container.
  • Racks with their samples are then placed in a row on a conveyor passing through the analysis station of an analysis automaton where they undergo one after the other pipetting operations specific to the analysis that needs to be done.
  • the invention proposes a method implementing an analysis automaton of the aforementioned type in which the sample containers (eg tubes) previously arranged in racks are movable inside the pipetting area during the phases analysis, loading, unloading of this pipetting area as well as the movements of the racks inside the latter taking place automatically.
  • sample containers eg tubes
  • the processor that manages the The movements of the pipetting head may, at any moment, know the position of each container in the pipetting area. It can therefore perform samples or injections of products in any container present in the pipetting area according to a program depending on the nature of the analysis to be carried out, irrespective of the order in which the receptacle was introduced in the analysis automaton.
  • the invention also relates to an analysis automaton designed for the implementation of the method described above, this automaton intervene, on both sides of the pipetting area, a first set with two parallel linear conveyors designed to carry the racks in a row, oriented along the axis of movement of these carriers, and a second assembly comprising at least two linear conveyors perpendicular to the first two and designed to carry the racks, oriented perpendicular to the axis of movement of these two conveyors, inside the pipetting area, the conveyors of this second set opening into transfer zones of entry / exit of the two conveyors of the first set.
  • the analysis automaton may comprise a device for reading identification codes inscribed on the cylindrical walls of the tubes contained in the racks, this reading device equipping one of the linear conveyors upstream of the aforementioned transfer areas of this conveyor.
  • the pipetting area and more generally the inside of the automaton analysis may be maintained at a temperature which samples.
  • the automatic analysis automaton A is intended to perform Haemostasis tests on centrifuged blood samples contained in tubes T on the wall of which are indicated, in the form of a code to identification data concerning, for example, the identity of the the person from whom the blood sample was taken and the nature of the tests that need to be done.
  • the blood samples contained in the blocked tubes T are arranged in the rack of a centrifuge where they are subjected to centrifugation.
  • the tubes can be held in the racks to prevent tampering.
  • the tubes are arranged in racks R by example of the type shown in Figure 3 which contains five tubes T.
  • the R racks are themselves arranged in baskets easily transportable and specially designed to be placed in a dispenser of Racks which constitutes the access point of the racks to the analysis automaton A.
  • the racks R are arranged side by side to form a line oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the racks.
  • the racks R are guided in the direction of the queue by an inverted ⁇ profiled rail RA 1 integral with the bottom of the basket and which engages in a transverse prismatic cavity CP of cross section. T-shape formed in the base E of the R-racks.
  • the establishment of the R-racks on the rail RA 1 can be facilitated by providing at the end of the rail RA 1 a section TR in which the lateral wings A 1 , A 2 of RA rail 1 are retractable. This result can be obtained by providing flanges A 1 , A 2 chamfered edge, movable in translation to the inside of the rail RA 1 and held in the deployed position by springs RE ( Figure 5).
  • the rack dispenser D comprises a pusher PM movable in the axis of the RA 1 backplane rail and whose movements are provided by means of a gear motor MR 1 which drives a pinion PI meshing with a rack CR driven parallel to the rail.
  • This pusher PM serves to move the racks R of the queue along the rail RA 1 to bring the last rack R of the queue on a belt conveyor CB 1 which feeds the analysis automaton.
  • the R Racks clamped against each other remain oriented perpendicular to RA rail 1 .
  • the R carriers driven one by one are oriented along an axis of displacement perpendicular to the rail RA 1 .
  • the conveyor CB 1 of conventional structure, consists of a strip 10 for example of elastomer passing on two rollers G 1 , G 2 with parallel horizontal axes, one of which G 2 is rotated by a geared motor MR 2 .
  • the strip 10 comprises, on its outer face, notches 11 whose spacing corresponds substantially to the length of a rack R.
  • This band 10 flows along a longitudinal edge of a pipetting area 12 of automaton A, successively opposite an exit zone and a zone access to the pipetting area 12.
  • the pipetting area 12 which has a rectangular shape is intended for receive two rows of racks R arranged side by side, above which can move a pipetting head 13 of conventional type, mobile in two perpendicular directions X, Y, equipped with means for performing injections and / or samples taken inside the tubes contained in the racks.
  • This pipetting area 12 is in fact materialized by the passage areas of two conveyors CV 1 , CV 2 oriented perpendicular to the conveyor CB 1 and which extend from the access and exit zones ZE 1 and ZS 2 .
  • conveyors CV 1 , CV 2 each involve a rail RA 2 , RA 3 in ⁇ (similar to the backplane rail) oriented perpendicularly to the conveyor CB 1 and on which are engaged by their prismatic cavities CP racks R transported by the conveyor CB 1 .
  • RA 3 On either side of this rail RA 2 , RA 3 are arranged two drive belts BE 1 , BE 2 - BE ' 1 , BE' 2 provided with notches 15 whose pitch is substantially equal to the thickness of the R. racks
  • the transfer of the racks R from one to the other conveyor CV 1 , CV 2 is provided either by the belt conveyor CB 1 , or by a second belt conveyor CB 2 which extends along the longitudinal edge of the belt. pipetting area 12 opposite the conveyor CB 1 .
  • This conveyor CB 2 which has a structure similar to that of the conveyor CB 1 passes successively in the output zone ZS 1 of the conveyor CV 1 and then in the entry zone ZE 2 of the conveyor CV 2 .
  • the movements of the racks R in the pipetting area 12 can be carried out step by step, each step corresponding to the thickness of a rack R.
  • the movement of the R carriers by the conveyors CB 1 , CB 2 must also be done step by step in synchronism with the previous ones.
  • the conveyor CB 1 is equipped with an automatic identification station PI tubes disposed at the junction between the passage areas R Racks on conveyors CV 1 , CV 2 .
  • This device illustrated in FIG. 2 involves the use of racks R comprising, on one side, a perforated lateral face FL 1 whose apertures constitute windows F intended to allow the optical reading of the identification codes carried by the cylindrical walls. tubes T and, on the other side, a slot-shaped orifice OF which extends over the entire length of the lateral face FL 2 of the rack R.
  • the rack of generally parallelepipedal shape with chamfered vertical edges comprises a base E provided with a rib defining a transverse prismatic cavity CP of substantially C-shaped section or dovetail, intended to come to cooperate with a guide rail RA 1 , RA 2 , RA 3 of complementary section, for example T-shaped.
  • the upper part of the rack R 1 here comprises five vertical cylindrical cells A 1 to A 5 open at the upper face of the rack, intended to receive five respective tubes.
  • these cells A 1 to A 5 open outwards through oblong windows F 1 to F 5 which extend from the upper face of the rack to the level of the base E.
  • the rack R 1 On the side of the face FL 2 , the rack R 1 comprises an orifice of rectangular section OF which extends horizontally, halfway up the rack R, from one end to the other of the latter.
  • the depth p of this orifice is provided so that a portion of the wall of the tubes is found and thus can cooperate with a means of rotational drive of the type of the wheel M shown in Figure 2.
  • the cells A 1 to A 5 of the rack comprise, on either side of the windows F 1 to F 5, ribs N on which the tubes abut, preferably tangentially.
  • each of the pairs of ribs N is provided a flexible tongue PA 1 to PA 5 which extends obliquely slightly in the internal volume of the cell A 1 to A 5 corresponding to maintain the tube applied to the ribs N .
  • the racks initially contained in the basket disposed in the distributor D are transferred one by one onto the belt 10 of the conveyor CB 1 which successively transports them to the identification station PI in which the codes D identification carried by the tubes are read successively, then in the access zone ZE 1 to the pipetting area 12 in a position in which the prismatic cavity CP is located exactly in the axis of the rail RA 2 .
  • the rack R which is thus positioned in the zone ZE 1 is then driven by the notches 15 of the two training strips BE 1 , BE 2 .
  • This drive causes first of all the engagement of the rail RA 2 in the prismatic cavity CP of the rack R and then the sliding of the rack R along the latter until it reaches the output zone ZS 1 located on the CB conveyor 2 .
  • the passage of the rack R in this zone ZS 1 causes its disassembly of the rail RA 2 and its training by the conveyor CB 2 to the access zone ZE 2 where it is positioned so as to engage on the RA rail 3 .
  • the carrier R is then driven by the conveyor CV 2 and slides on the RA rail 3 until reaching the exit zone ZS 2 where it disengages the rail RA 3 .
  • the rack R is then driven by the conveyor CB 1 to the access zone ZE 1 to initiate a new analysis cycle, or to the distributor D to ensure, by a reverse process to the previous one, a return of the racks in the basket previously emptied, or even to a discharge area (not shown).
  • control of the distributor D, of the various conveyors CB 1 , CB 2 , CV 1 , CV 2 , of the identification station PI and of the analysis automaton A is provided by a processor that receives a multiplicity of information from position sensors arranged along the kinematic chain taken by the racks.
  • An important advantage of the device described above is that inside the pipetting area, the processor knows the exact position of the tubes and their identity. As a result, he can manage travel and operation of the pipetting head, according to an independent program of the order of introduction of the rack in the automaton but according to the nature and the duration of the analyzes, or even the urgency of the analysis.
  • the automaton could comprise a direct access zone ZE 3 making it possible to have on the conveyor CB 1 a rack not coming from the basket placed in the dispenser.
  • a hatch TR located at the exit zone ZS 2 for extracting or disposing a tube in a rack stationed in the zone ZS 2 for sorting or selection.

Abstract

A method provides for the placing of samples containers inside holders, a first displacement bringing the holders to an zone with access to the blood analyser pipetting area, identifying the containers during this displacement, a second rectilinear displacement through the pipetting zone along a path perpendicular to the first, a third rectilinear displacement bringing the holders to a second zone acceding to the pipetting area a fourth displacement through the pipetting area and bringing the holders to second outlet zone located on the first path and a path bringing the holder, to the first access zone or an evacuating zone. The method is particularly useful for carrying out hemostasis test on centrifuged blood samples.

Description

La présente invention concerne un procédé pour l'analyse automatique en continu ou en discontinu d'échantillons contenus dans des récipients tels que, par exemple, des tubes à essais.The present invention relates to a method for automatic analysis in continuous or discontinuous samples contained in containers such as, for example, test tubes.

Il existe déjà de nombreux procédés d'analyse tels que par exemple ceux décrits dans les brevets US -A- 5 538 849 et US-A-4 798 095.There are already many methods of analysis such as for example those described in US-A-5,538,849 and US-A-4,798,095.

Souvent, en vue de leur analyse, les récipients d'échantillon sont disposés en ligne dans des conteneurs ou portoirs contenant chacun plusieurs tubes (en général cinq) axés verticalement dans un plan médian vertical longitudinal du conteneur.Often, for their analysis, the sample containers are arranged in line in containers or racks each containing several tubes (in general five) vertically oriented in a longitudinal vertical median plane of the container.

Les portoirs munis de leurs échantillons sont alors disposés à la file sur un convoyeur passant dans le poste d'analyse d'un automate d'analyse où ils subissent les uns après les autres les opérations de pipetages propres à l'analyse qui doit être réalisée.Racks with their samples are then placed in a row on a conveyor passing through the analysis station of an analysis automaton where they undergo one after the other pipetting operations specific to the analysis that needs to be done.

Il s'avère que ce traitement séquentiel des échantillons, qui se trouve décrit dans le brevet EP 0 567 093, présente divers inconvénients :

  • difficulté de relance d'un test ou de complément d'analyse (il faut aller manuellement chercher le tube dans les portoirs déjà prélevés),
  • les échantillons sont stockés à température ambiante, ce qui est très préjudiciable à certains paramètres labiles,
  • le tri de tube pour stocker des échantillons en échantillothèque ou différer des tests est très difficile,
  • le traitement des tubes urgent est rendu difficile par le fait qu'il faut court-circuiter la file d'attente.
It turns out that this sequential treatment of the samples, which is described in patent EP 0 567 093, has various drawbacks:
  • difficulty of relaunching a test or additional analysis (it is necessary to go manually to find the tube in the racks already taken),
  • the samples are stored at room temperature, which is very detrimental to certain labile parameters,
  • sorting the tube to store samples in a sample library or delaying tests is very difficult,
  • urgent tube processing is made difficult by the fact that the queue has to be short-circuited.

C'est la raison pour laquelle on a également proposé des automates d'analyse comprenant une aire de pipetage dans laquelle les récipients d'échantillon préalablement identifiés sont disposés selon une répartition matricielle. Au-dessus de cette aire de pipetage se déplace, selon deux axes de coordonnées perpendiculaires, une tête d'injection et/ou de prélèvement (tête de pipetage) dont le fonctionnement ainsi que les déplacements sont commandés par un automatisme piloté par un processeur. Il est clair que grâce à cette disposition, il devient possible d'effectuer plusieurs traitements d'analyse en parallèle et donc de relancer à tout moment. L'inconvénient de cette solution réside alors dans le fait qu'elle ne permet pas un chargement continu ou semi- continu de l'automate : chaque séquence de fonctionnement implique un chargement manuel de la zone de pipetage avec identification de chacun des tubes, de son emplacement, et du type d'analyse à effectuer.This is why we have also proposed automatic analyzers comprising a pipetting area in which the sample containers previously identified are arranged according to a matrix distribution. Above of this pipetting area moves along two coordinate axes perpendicular, an injection head and / or sampling (pipetting head) whose operation and movements are controlled by a automation controlled by a processor. It is clear that thanks to this provision, it becomes possible to carry out several analysis treatments in parallel and so restart at any time. The disadvantage of this solution lies in that it does not allow continuous or semi-continuous charging of the automaton: each sequence of operation implies a loading manual pipetting area with identification of each of the tubes, its location, and the type of analysis to be performed.

Ces opérations qui exigent la présence d'un opérateur, sont relativement longues et ne permettent pas de garantir l'absence d'erreur notamment dans la relation identification/position des tubes.These operations, which require the presence of an operator, are relatively long and do not guarantee the absence of error, especially in the relationship identification / position of the tubes.

Dans le but de supprimer ces inconvénients, l'invention propose un procédé mettant en oeuvre un automate d'analyse du type susdit dans lequel les récipients d'échantillon (par exemple les tubes) préalablement disposés dans des portoirs sont mobiles à l'intérieur de l'aire de pipetage au cours des phases d'analyse, le chargement, le déchargement de cette aire de pipetage ainsi que les déplacements des portoirs à l'intérieur de cette dernière s'effectuant automatiquement.In order to eliminate these disadvantages, the invention proposes a method implementing an analysis automaton of the aforementioned type in which the sample containers (eg tubes) previously arranged in racks are movable inside the pipetting area during the phases analysis, loading, unloading of this pipetting area as well as the movements of the racks inside the latter taking place automatically.

Pour parvenir à ces résultats, le procédé selon l'invention comprend un cycle opératoire comportant au moins les phases suivantes :

  • la mise en place des récipients d'échantillon à analyser à l'intérieur de portoirs dans lesquels les récipients axés verticalement sont disposés en ligne parallèlement à l'axe longitudinal desdits portoirs,
  • un premier déplacement des portoirs à la suite les uns des autres selon un premier trajet rectiligne pour les amener au droit d'une zone d'accès à l'aire de pipetage,
  • l'identification, de préférence automatique, des récipients au cours de ce premier déplacement,
  • un deuxième déplacement rectiligne selon un trajet perpendiculaire au premier, au cours duquel les portoirs, qui se trouvent disposés côte à côte, parallèlement au premier trajet, sont déplacés en translation et traversent de part en part l'aire de pipetage pour atteindre une zone de sortie située à l'opposé de la zone d'accès,
  • un troisième déplacement rectiligne selon un trajet parallèle au premier, au cours duquel les portoirs sont amenés à la file de la première zone de sortie à une deuxième zone d'entrée à l'aire de pipetage,
  • un quatrième déplacement rectiligne selon un trajet parallèle au second, au cours duquel les portoirs qui sont à nouveau disposés côte à côte parallèlement au premier trajet sont déplacés en translation à travers l'aire de pipetage pour atteindre une deuxième zone de sortie située sur le premier trajet,
  • un cinquième déplacement rectiligne le long du premier trajet pour amener le portoir à la première zone d'accès en vue de recommencer un nouveau cycle ou à une zone d'évacuation du portoir.
To achieve these results, the method according to the invention comprises an operating cycle comprising at least the following phases:
  • placing the sample containers to be analyzed inside racks in which the vertically oriented containers are arranged in line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said racks,
  • a first displacement of the racks following each other along a first rectilinear path to bring them to the right of an access zone to the pipetting area,
  • the identification, preferably automatic, of the containers during this first displacement,
  • a second rectilinear movement in a path perpendicular to the first, during which the racks, which are arranged side by side, parallel to the first path, are moved in translation and pass right through the pipetting area to reach a zone of exit opposite the access zone,
  • a third rectilinear movement in a path parallel to the first, during which the racks are brought to the queue of the first exit zone at a second inlet zone to the pipetting area;
  • a fourth rectilinear movement in a path parallel to the second, during which the racks which are again arranged side by side parallel to the first path are moved in translation through the pipetting area to reach a second exit zone located on the first path path,
  • a fifth straight motion along the first path to bring the rack to the first access area to restart a new cycle or rack discharge area.

Grâce à ces dispositions :

  • au cours du deuxième trajet, chaque portoir balaye une première fraction, par exemple une première moitié, de l'aire de pipetage,
  • au cours du quatrième trajet, chaque portoir balaye une seconde fraction, par exemple la deuxième moitié, de l'aire de pipetage,
  • au cours de chacun de ces deux trajets, chaque récipient se déplace sur la même colonne de la matrice de l'aire de pipetage.
Thanks to these provisions:
  • during the second path, each rack scans a first fraction, for example a first half, of the pipetting area,
  • during the fourth path, each rack scans a second fraction, for example the second half, of the pipetting area,
  • during each of these two paths, each container moves on the same column of the matrix of the pipetting area.

Il s'avère donc qu'à l'aide de capteurs relativement simples permettant de déterminer la position de chacun des portoirs, le processeur qui gère les déplacements de la tête de pipetage peut connaítre, à chaque instant, la position de chaque récipient dans l'aire de pipetage. Il peut donc effectuer des prélèvements ou des injections de produits dans n'importe quel récipient présent dans l'aire de pipetage selon un programme fonction de la nature de l'analyse à effectuer, indépendamment de l'ordre dans lequel le récipient a été introduit dans l'automate d'analyse.It turns out, therefore, that with relatively simple sensors determine the position of each rack, the processor that manages the The movements of the pipetting head may, at any moment, know the position of each container in the pipetting area. It can therefore perform samples or injections of products in any container present in the pipetting area according to a program depending on the nature of the analysis to be carried out, irrespective of the order in which the receptacle was introduced in the analysis automaton.

Bien entendu, l'invention concerne également un automate d'analyse conçu pour la mise en oeuvre du procédé précédemment décrit, cet automate faisant intervenir, de part et d'autre de l'aire de pipetage, un premier ensemble comportant deux convoyeurs linéaires parallèles conçus pour transporter les portoirs à la file, orientés selon l'axe de déplacement de ces transporteurs, et un deuxième ensemble comprenant au moins deux convoyeurs linéaires perpendiculaires aux deux premiers et conçus pour transporter les portoirs, orientés perpendiculairement à l'axe de déplacement de ces deux convoyeurs, à l'intérieur de l'aire de pipetage, les convoyeurs de ce deuxième ensemble débouchant dans des zones de transfert d'entrée/sortie des deux convoyeurs du premier ensemble. Of course, the invention also relates to an analysis automaton designed for the implementation of the method described above, this automaton intervene, on both sides of the pipetting area, a first set with two parallel linear conveyors designed to carry the racks in a row, oriented along the axis of movement of these carriers, and a second assembly comprising at least two linear conveyors perpendicular to the first two and designed to carry the racks, oriented perpendicular to the axis of movement of these two conveyors, inside the pipetting area, the conveyors of this second set opening into transfer zones of entry / exit of the two conveyors of the first set.

Avantageusement, l'automate d'analyse pourra comprendre un dispositif de lecture des codes d'identification inscrits sur les parois cylindriques des tubes contenus dans les portoirs, ce dispositif de lecture équipant l'un des convoyeurs linéaires en amont des susdites aires de transfert de ce convoyeur.Advantageously, the analysis automaton may comprise a device for reading identification codes inscribed on the cylindrical walls of the tubes contained in the racks, this reading device equipping one of the linear conveyors upstream of the aforementioned transfer areas of this conveyor.

De même, l'aire de pipetage et plus généralement l'intérieur de l'automate d'analyse pourra être maintenue à une température propre à conserver les échantillons.Similarly, the pipetting area and more generally the inside of the automaton analysis may be maintained at a temperature which samples.

Un mode d'exécution d'un automate d'analyse selon l'invention sera décrit ci-après, à titre d'exemple non limitatif, avec référence aux dessins annexés dans lesquels :

  • La figure 1 est une vue schématique de dessus d'un automate d'analyse selon l'invention ;
  • La figure 2 est une vue à plus grande échelle d'un dispositif de lecture automatique des codes d'identification portés par les tubes d'échantillon ;
  • La figure 3 est une vue en perspective d'un portoir spécialement conformé pour permettre la lecture des tubes d'échantillon ;
  • La figure 4 est une vue en coupe d'un rail de guidage des portoirs avec un tronçon d'alimentation à ailes escamotables ;
  • La figure 5 est une coupe transversale schématique du tronçon escamotable.
    • An embodiment of an analysis automaton according to the invention will be described below, by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:
  • Figure 1 is a schematic top view of an analysis automaton according to the invention;
  • Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a device for automatically reading the identification codes carried by the sample tubes;
  • Figure 3 is a perspective view of a specially shaped rack for reading the sample tubes;
  • Figure 4 is a sectional view of a rack guide rail with a retractable wing supply section;
  • Figure 5 is a schematic cross section of the retractable section.

    • Dans cet exemple, l'automate d'analyse automatique A est destiné à effectuer des tests d'hémostase sur des échantillons de sang centrifugés, contenus dans des tubes T sur la paroi desquels sont indiquées, sous la forme d'un code à barres, des données d'identification concernant par exemple l'identité de la personne sur laquelle on a effectué le prélèvement sanguin et la nature des tests qui doivent être effectués.In this example, the automatic analysis automaton A is intended to perform Haemostasis tests on centrifuged blood samples contained in tubes T on the wall of which are indicated, in the form of a code to identification data concerning, for example, the identity of the the person from whom the blood sample was taken and the nature of the tests that need to be done.

    Au cours du processus qui précède la phase de réalisation des tests, les prélèvements sanguins contenus dans les tubes bouchés T sont disposés dans le portoir d'une centrifugeuse où ils sont soumis à une centrifugation. Les tubes peuvent être maintenus dans les portoirs afin d'éviter des manipulations.During the process that precedes the testing phase, the blood samples contained in the blocked tubes T are arranged in the rack of a centrifuge where they are subjected to centrifugation. The tubes can be held in the racks to prevent tampering.

    Au sortir de la centrifugeuse, les tubes sont disposés dans des portoirs R par exemple du type de celui représenté sur la figure 3 qui contient cinq tubes T. Les portoirs R sont eux-mêmes disposés dans des paniers facilement transportables et spécialement conçus pour être placés dans un distributeur de portoirs D qui constitue le poste d'accès des portoirs à l'automate d'analyse A.At the end of the centrifuge, the tubes are arranged in racks R by example of the type shown in Figure 3 which contains five tubes T. The R racks are themselves arranged in baskets easily transportable and specially designed to be placed in a dispenser of Racks which constitutes the access point of the racks to the analysis automaton A.

    Dans ces paniers, les portoirs R sont disposés côte à côte pour former une file orientée perpendiculairement à l'axe longitudinal des portoirs.In these baskets, the racks R are arranged side by side to form a line oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the racks.

    En fait, à l'intérieur du panier, les portoirs R se trouvent guidés dans le sens de la file par un rail profilé en Ω inversé RA1 solidaire du fond du panier et qui s'engage dans une cavité prismatique transversale CP de section en forme de T réalisée dans l'embase E des portoirs R. La mise en place des portoirs R sur le rail RA1 peut être facilitée en prévoyant à l'extrémité du rail RA1 un tronçon TR dans lequel les ailes latérales A1, A2 du rail RA1 sont escamotables. Ce résultat peut être obtenu en prévoyant des ailes A1, A2 à bord chanfreiné, mobiles en translation vers l'intérieur du rail RA1 et maintenues en position déployée par des ressorts RE (figure 5).In fact, inside the basket, the racks R are guided in the direction of the queue by an inverted Ω profiled rail RA 1 integral with the bottom of the basket and which engages in a transverse prismatic cavity CP of cross section. T-shape formed in the base E of the R-racks. The establishment of the R-racks on the rail RA 1 can be facilitated by providing at the end of the rail RA 1 a section TR in which the lateral wings A 1 , A 2 of RA rail 1 are retractable. This result can be obtained by providing flanges A 1 , A 2 chamfered edge, movable in translation to the inside of the rail RA 1 and held in the deployed position by springs RE (Figure 5).

    Grâce à cette disposition, il devient possible de réaliser l'assemblage des portoirs sur le rail RA1 en l'engageant par le dessus du tronçon de rail TR au terme d'un déplacement vertical pendant lequel les bords extérieurs de la cavité CP viennent en appui sur les bords chanfreinés des ailes latérales A1, A2 en provoquant leur rétraction. Lorsque les ailes A1, A2 atteignent le niveau de la partie la plus large de la cavité CP, elles se déploient sous l'effet des ressorts RE en réalisant ainsi l'assemblage. Le portoir peut alors être déplacé en translation, perpendiculairement à son axe longitudinal X'X" pour atteindre la section à ailes fixes du rail RA1. Cette solution s'avère plus ergonomique et plus simple que la solution qui consisterait à enfiler les portoirs R par une extrémité du rail RA1.Thanks to this arrangement, it becomes possible to assemble the racks on the rail RA 1 by engaging the top of the TR rail section at the end of a vertical movement during which the outer edges of the cavity CP come into support on the chamfered edges of the lateral wings A 1 , A 2 causing their retraction. When the wings A 1 , A 2 reach the level of the widest part of the cavity CP, they unfold under the effect of the springs RE thus realizing the assembly. The rack can then be moved in translation, perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis X'X "to reach the fixed-wing section of rail RA 1. This solution is more ergonomic and simpler than the solution which would be to put the racks R at one end of RA rail 1 .

    Dans cet exemple, le distributeur de portoirs D comprend un poussoir PM mobile dans l'axe du rail fond de panier RA1 et dont les déplacements sont assurés au moyen d'un motoréducteur MR1 qui entraíne un pignon PI engrenant avec une crémaillère CR axée parallèlement au rail. Ce poussoir PM sert à déplacer les portoirs R de la file le long du rail RA1 afin d'amener le dernier portoir R de la file sur un convoyeur à bande CB1 qui alimente l'automate d'analyse. Au cours de leurs déplacements, les portoirs R serrés les uns contre les autres demeurent orientés perpendiculairement au rail RA1.In this example, the rack dispenser D comprises a pusher PM movable in the axis of the RA 1 backplane rail and whose movements are provided by means of a gear motor MR 1 which drives a pinion PI meshing with a rack CR driven parallel to the rail. This pusher PM serves to move the racks R of the queue along the rail RA 1 to bring the last rack R of the queue on a belt conveyor CB 1 which feeds the analysis automaton. During their movements, the R Racks clamped against each other remain oriented perpendicular to RA rail 1 .

    Par contre, sur le convoyeur CB1, les portoirs R entraínés un à un sont orientés selon un axe de déplacement perpendiculaire au rail RA1.On the other hand, on the conveyor CB 1 , the R carriers driven one by one are oriented along an axis of displacement perpendicular to the rail RA 1 .

    Le convoyeur CB1, de structure classique, se compose d'une bande 10 par exemple en élastomère passant sur deux galets G1, G2 à axes horizontaux parallèles dont l'un G2 est entraíné en rotation par un motoréducteur MR2. La bande 10 comprend, sur sa face externe, des crantages 11 dont l'espacement correspond sensiblement à la longueur d'un portoir R.The conveyor CB 1 , of conventional structure, consists of a strip 10 for example of elastomer passing on two rollers G 1 , G 2 with parallel horizontal axes, one of which G 2 is rotated by a geared motor MR 2 . The strip 10 comprises, on its outer face, notches 11 whose spacing corresponds substantially to the length of a rack R.

    Cette bande 10 circule le long d'un bord longitudinal d'une aire de pipetage 12 de l'automate A, successivement en regard d'une zone de sortie et d'une zone d'accès à l'aire de pipetage 12. This band 10 flows along a longitudinal edge of a pipetting area 12 of automaton A, successively opposite an exit zone and a zone access to the pipetting area 12.

    L'aire de pipetage 12 qui présente une forme rectangulaire est destinée à recevoir deux files de portoirs R disposées côte à côte, au-dessus desquelles peut se déplacer une tête de pipetage 13 de type classique, mobile selon deux directions perpendiculaires X, Y, équipée de moyens permettant d'effectuer des injections et/ou des prélèvements à l'intérieur des tubes contenus dans les portoirs.The pipetting area 12 which has a rectangular shape is intended for receive two rows of racks R arranged side by side, above which can move a pipetting head 13 of conventional type, mobile in two perpendicular directions X, Y, equipped with means for performing injections and / or samples taken inside the tubes contained in the racks.

    Cette aire de pipetage 12 est en fait matérialisée par les aires de passage de deux convoyeurs CV1, CV2 axés perpendiculairement au convoyeur CB1 et qui s'étendent à partir des zones d'accès et de sortie ZE1 et ZS2.This pipetting area 12 is in fact materialized by the passage areas of two conveyors CV 1 , CV 2 oriented perpendicular to the conveyor CB 1 and which extend from the access and exit zones ZE 1 and ZS 2 .

    Ces convoyeurs CV1, CV2 font chacun intervenir un rail de guidage RA2, RA3 en Ω (similaire au rail de fond de panier) axé perpendiculairement au convoyeur CB1 et sur lesquels viennent s'engager par leurs cavités prismatiques CP les portoirs R transportés par le convoyeur CB1.These conveyors CV 1 , CV 2 each involve a rail RA 2 , RA 3 in Ω (similar to the backplane rail) oriented perpendicularly to the conveyor CB 1 and on which are engaged by their prismatic cavities CP racks R transported by the conveyor CB 1 .

    De part et d'autre de ce rail RA2, RA3, sont disposées deux bandes d'entraínement BE1, BE2 - BE'1, BE'2 munies de crantages 15 dont le pas est sensiblement égal à l'épaisseur des portoirs R.On either side of this rail RA 2 , RA 3 are arranged two drive belts BE 1 , BE 2 - BE ' 1 , BE' 2 provided with notches 15 whose pitch is substantially equal to the thickness of the R. racks

    Le transfert des portoirs R de l'un à l'autre convoyeur CV1, CV2 est assuré soit par le convoyeur à bande CB1, soit par un deuxième convoyeur à bande CB2 qui s'étend le long du bord longitudinal de l'aire de pipetage 12, opposé au convoyeur CB1.The transfer of the racks R from one to the other conveyor CV 1 , CV 2 is provided either by the belt conveyor CB 1 , or by a second belt conveyor CB 2 which extends along the longitudinal edge of the belt. pipetting area 12 opposite the conveyor CB 1 .

    Ce convoyeur CB2 qui présente une structure similaire à celle du convoyeur CB1 passe successivement dans la zone de sortie ZS1 du convoyeur CV1 puis dans la zone d'entrée ZE2 du convoyeur CV2.This conveyor CB 2 which has a structure similar to that of the conveyor CB 1 passes successively in the output zone ZS 1 of the conveyor CV 1 and then in the entry zone ZE 2 of the conveyor CV 2 .

    Il permet donc d'assurer un transfert par translation des portoirs R selon leur axe longitudinal de sorte que dans la zone d'accès ZE2, le portoir R se trouve placé dans l'axe du convoyeur CV2. Ce portoir R se trouve alors entraíné par les crantages des bandes 15 et vient s'engager par sa cavité prismatique sur le rail RA3 où il peut coulisser jusqu'à atteindre la zone de sortie ZS2.It thus makes it possible to ensure transfer by translation of the racks R along their longitudinal axis so that in the access zone ZE 2 , the rack R is placed in the axis of the conveyor CV 2 . This rack R is then driven by the notches of the strips 15 and is engaged by its prismatic cavity on the rail RA 3 where it can slide to reach the exit zone ZS 2 .

    Avantageusement, les déplacements des portoirs R dans l'aire de pipetage 12 pourront être effectués pas à pas, chaque pas correspondant à l'épaisseur d'un portoir R. Dans ce cas, les déplacements des portoirs R par les convoyeurs CB1, CB2 devront être également effectués pas à pas en synchronisme avec les précédents.Advantageously, the movements of the racks R in the pipetting area 12 can be carried out step by step, each step corresponding to the thickness of a rack R. In this case, the movement of the R carriers by the conveyors CB 1 , CB 2 must also be done step by step in synchronism with the previous ones.

    Dans cet exemple, le convoyeur CB1 est équipé d'un poste d'identification automatique des tubes PI disposé au niveau de la jonction entre les aires de passage des portoirs R sur les convoyeurs CV1, CV2. Ce dispositif illustré sur la figure 2, implique l'usage de portoirs R comprenant d'un côté, une face latérale ajourée FL1 dont les ajourements constituent des fenêtres F destinées à permettre la lecture optique des codes d'identification portés par les parois cylindriques des tubes T et, de l'autre côté, un orifice en forme de fente OF qui s'étend sur toute la longueur de la face latérale FL2 du portoir R.In this example, the conveyor CB 1 is equipped with an automatic identification station PI tubes disposed at the junction between the passage areas R Racks on conveyors CV 1 , CV 2 . This device illustrated in FIG. 2, involves the use of racks R comprising, on one side, a perforated lateral face FL 1 whose apertures constitute windows F intended to allow the optical reading of the identification codes carried by the cylindrical walls. tubes T and, on the other side, a slot-shaped orifice OF which extends over the entire length of the lateral face FL 2 of the rack R.

    Tel que représenté sur la figure 2, le poste d'identification, matérialisé par un rectangle en traits interrompus, comprend :

    • d'une part, un dispositif optoélectronique de lecture L (par exemple une caméra vidéo associée à un analyseur d'image AI) disposé d'un côté du convoyeur CB1, de manière à enregistrer l'image de la paroi cylindrique de chacun des tubes T chaque fois que la fenêtre F qui permet la vision de ce tube T se trouve dans le champ du dispositif de lecture L, et
    • d'autre part, un dispositif d'entraínement qui consiste ici en une molette M en une matière résiliante telle que du caoutchouc entraínée par un moteur électrique ; cette molette M, axée verticalement, est disposée au droit du dispositif de lecture L, de l'autre côté du convoyeur CB1 de manière à pouvoir s'engager dans l'orifice longitudinal OF du portoir R pour venir porter successivement sur la paroi cylindrique des tubes T et assurer ainsi leur entraínement en rotation.
    As represented in FIG. 2, the identification station, represented by a dashed rectangle, comprises:
    • on the one hand, an optoelectronic reading device L (for example a video camera associated with an image analyzer AI) disposed on one side of the conveyor CB 1 , so as to record the image of the cylindrical wall of each of the tubes T whenever the window F which allows the vision of this tube T is in the field of the reading device L, and
    • on the other hand, a drive device which here consists of a wheel M of a resilient material such as rubber driven by an electric motor; this wheel M, vertically oriented, is arranged at the right of the reading device L, on the other side of the conveyor CB 1 so as to be able to engage in the longitudinal orifice OF of the rack R to come carry successively on the cylindrical wall T tubes and thus ensure their rotational drive.

    Dans l'exemple représenté sur la figure 3, le portoir de forme générale parallélépipédique à bords verticaux chanfreinés comprend une embase E munie d'une nervuration délimitant une cavité prismatique transversale CP de section sensiblement en forme de C ou en queue d'aronde, destinée à venir coopérer avec un rail de guidage RA1, RA2, RA3 de section complémentaire, par exemple en forme de T.In the example shown in FIG. 3, the rack of generally parallelepipedal shape with chamfered vertical edges comprises a base E provided with a rib defining a transverse prismatic cavity CP of substantially C-shaped section or dovetail, intended to come to cooperate with a guide rail RA 1 , RA 2 , RA 3 of complementary section, for example T-shaped.

    La partie supérieure du portoir R1 comprend ici cinq alvéoles cylindriques verticales A1 à A5 ouvertes au niveau de la face supérieure du portoir, destinées à recevoir cinq tubes respectifs.The upper part of the rack R 1 here comprises five vertical cylindrical cells A 1 to A 5 open at the upper face of the rack, intended to receive five respective tubes.

    Du côté de la face FL1, ces alvéoles A1 à A5 s'ouvrent vers l'extérieur grâce à des fenêtres oblongues F1 à F5 qui s'étendent depuis la face supérieure du portoir jusqu'au niveau de l'embase E.On the side of the face FL 1 , these cells A 1 to A 5 open outwards through oblong windows F 1 to F 5 which extend from the upper face of the rack to the level of the base E.

    Du côté de la face FL2, le portoir R1 comprend un orifice de section rectangulaire OF qui s'étend horizontalement, à mi-hauteur du portoir R, d'une extrémité à l'autre de ce dernier. La profondeur p de cet orifice est prévue de manière à ce qu'une portion de la paroi des tubes se trouve découverte et puisse ainsi coopérer avec un moyen d'entraínement en rotation du type de la molette M représentée sur la figure 2.On the side of the face FL 2 , the rack R 1 comprises an orifice of rectangular section OF which extends horizontally, halfway up the rack R, from one end to the other of the latter. The depth p of this orifice is provided so that a portion of the wall of the tubes is found and thus can cooperate with a means of rotational drive of the type of the wheel M shown in Figure 2.

    Par ailleurs, les alvéoles A1 à A5 du portoir comprennent de part et d'autre des fenêtres F1 à F5 des nervurations N sur lesquelles les tubes viennent en appui, de préférence tangentiellement. Moreover, the cells A 1 to A 5 of the rack comprise, on either side of the windows F 1 to F 5, ribs N on which the tubes abut, preferably tangentially.

    A l'opposé de chacun des couples de nervures N est prévue une languette flexible PA1 à PA5 qui s'étend obliquement légèrement dans le volume intérieur de l'alvéole A1 à A5 correspondante pour maintenir le tube appliqué sur les nervures N.Opposite each of the pairs of ribs N is provided a flexible tongue PA 1 to PA 5 which extends obliquely slightly in the internal volume of the cell A 1 to A 5 corresponding to maintain the tube applied to the ribs N .

    Il apparaít que grâce aux dispositions précédemment décrites, les portoirs initialement contenus dans le panier disposé dans le distributeur D, sont transférés un à un sur la bande 10 du convoyeur CB1 qui les transporte successivement au poste d'identification PI dans lequel les codes d'identification portés par les tubes sont lus successivement, puis dans la zone d'accès ZE1 à l'aire de pipetage 12 dans une position selon laquelle la cavité prismatique CP se trouve située exactement dans l'axe du rail RA2.It appears that, thanks to the arrangements previously described, the racks initially contained in the basket disposed in the distributor D, are transferred one by one onto the belt 10 of the conveyor CB 1 which successively transports them to the identification station PI in which the codes D identification carried by the tubes are read successively, then in the access zone ZE 1 to the pipetting area 12 in a position in which the prismatic cavity CP is located exactly in the axis of the rail RA 2 .

    Le portoir R qui se trouve ainsi positionné dans la zone ZE1 est alors entraíné par les crantages 15 des deux bandes d'entraínement BE1, BE2. Cet entraínement provoque tout d'abord l'engagement du rail RA2 dans la cavité prismatique CP du portoir R puis le coulissement du portoir R le long de ce dernier jusqu'à ce qu'il atteigne la zone de sortie ZS1 située sur le convoyeur CB2. Le passage du portoir R dans cette zone ZS1 provoque son désassemblage du rail RA2 puis son entraínement par le convoyeur CB2 jusqu'à la zone d'accès ZE2 où il se positionne de manière à pouvoir s'engager sur le rail RA3. Le portoir R se trouve alors entraíné par le convoyeur CV2 et coulisse sur le rail RA3 jusqu'à atteindre la zone de sortie ZS2 où il se désengage du rail RA3.The rack R which is thus positioned in the zone ZE 1 is then driven by the notches 15 of the two training strips BE 1 , BE 2 . This drive causes first of all the engagement of the rail RA 2 in the prismatic cavity CP of the rack R and then the sliding of the rack R along the latter until it reaches the output zone ZS 1 located on the CB conveyor 2 . The passage of the rack R in this zone ZS 1 causes its disassembly of the rail RA 2 and its training by the conveyor CB 2 to the access zone ZE 2 where it is positioned so as to engage on the RA rail 3 . The carrier R is then driven by the conveyor CV 2 and slides on the RA rail 3 until reaching the exit zone ZS 2 where it disengages the rail RA 3 .

    Le portoir R est alors entraíné par le convoyeur CB1 soit vers la zone d'accès ZE1 pour amorcer un nouveau cycle d'analyse, soit vers le distributeur D pour assurer, par un processus inverse au précédent, un retour des portoirs dans le panier précédemment vidé, soit même vers une zone de décharge (non représentée).The rack R is then driven by the conveyor CB 1 to the access zone ZE 1 to initiate a new analysis cycle, or to the distributor D to ensure, by a reverse process to the previous one, a return of the racks in the basket previously emptied, or even to a discharge area (not shown).

    Bien entendu, la commande du distributeur D, des différents convoyeurs CB1, CB2, CV1, CV2, du poste d'identification PI et de l'automate d'analyse A (en particulier de la tête de pipetage 13) est assurée par un processeur qui reçoit une multiplicité d'informations en provenance de capteurs de position disposés le long de la chaíne cinématique empruntée par les portoirs.Of course, the control of the distributor D, of the various conveyors CB 1 , CB 2 , CV 1 , CV 2 , of the identification station PI and of the analysis automaton A (in particular of the pipetting head 13) is provided by a processor that receives a multiplicity of information from position sensors arranged along the kinematic chain taken by the racks.

    Un avantage important du dispositif précédemment décrit consiste en ce qu'à l'intérieur de l'aire de pipetage, le processeur connaít la position exacte des tubes et leur identité. En conséquence, il peut gérer les déplacements et le fonctionnement de la tête de pipetage, selon un programme indépendant de l'ordre d'introduction du portoir dans l'automate mais en fonction de la nature et de la durée des analyses, voire même de l'urgence de l'analyse.An important advantage of the device described above is that inside the pipetting area, the processor knows the exact position of the tubes and their identity. As a result, he can manage travel and operation of the pipetting head, according to an independent program of the order of introduction of the rack in the automaton but according to the nature and the duration of the analyzes, or even the urgency of the analysis.

    Bien entendu, l'invention ne se limite pas au mode d'exécution précédemment décrit.Of course, the invention is not limited to the mode of execution previously described.

    Ainsi, l'automate pourrait comprendre une zone d'accès ZE3 direct permettant de disposer sur le convoyeur CB1 un portoir ne provenant pas du panier placé dans le distributeur.Thus, the automaton could comprise a direct access zone ZE 3 making it possible to have on the conveyor CB 1 a rack not coming from the basket placed in the dispenser.

    De même, il pourrait comprendre une trappe TR située au niveau de la zone de sortie ZS2 permettant d'extraire ou de disposer un tube dans un portoir stationné dans la zone ZS2 afin de tri ou de sélection.Similarly, it could include a hatch TR located at the exit zone ZS 2 for extracting or disposing a tube in a rack stationed in the zone ZS 2 for sorting or selection.

    Claims (19)

    1. Method for automatically analysing samples contained in recipients (T), such as test tubes, this method using an analysis robot (A) comprising a pipetting area (12) in which the previously identified sample recipient (T) are placed and above which a pipetting head (13) moves along two axes with perpendicular coordinates, characterised in that it comprises an operational cycle comprising at least the following stages :
      the placing of sample recipients (T) to be analysed inside containers (R) in which the vertically centred recipients (T) are disposed in line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said containers (R),
      a first movement of the containers (R) with one following the other along a first rectilinear path to bring them to the right of an access zone (ZE1) at the pipetting area (12),
      the identification, preferably automatic, of the recipients (T) during this first movement,
      a second rectilinear movement along a path perpendicular to the first, during which the containers (R) located side by side, parallel to the first path, are translation-moved and traverse straight through the pipetting area (12) so as to reach an outlet zone (ZS1) situated opposite the access zone (ZE1),
      a third rectilinear movement along a path parallel to the first, during which the containers are brought in line from the first outlet zone (ZS1) to a second inlet zone (ZE2) at the pipetting area (12),
      a fourth rectilinear movement along a path parallel to the second, during which the containers (R) again disposed side by side parallel to the first path are translation-moved through the pipetting area (12) so as to reach a second outlet zone (ZS2) situated on the first path,
      a fifth rectilinear movement along the first path so as to bring the container (R) to the first access zone (ZE1) with a view to restarting a new cycle or to a zone for evacuating the container.
    2. Method according to claim 1,
      characterised in that said movements are step by step movements.
    3. Method according to one of the claims 1 and 2,
      characterised in that the containers (R) containing the recipients (T) are arranged side by side in transportable baskets intended to be placed in a distributor (D) which delivers the containers (R) one by one with a view to carrying out said first movement.
    4. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
      characterised in that during the first movement, the longitudinal axis (X'X") of the containers (R) is orientated parallel to the axis of this movement.
    5. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
      characterised in that during the second movement, the longitudinal axis (X'X") of the containers (R) is orientated perpendicular to the axis of this movement.
    6. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
      characterised in that during the third movement, the longitudinal axis (X'X") of the containers (R) is parallel to the axis of this movement.
    7. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
      characterised in that during the fourth movement, the longitudinal axis (X'X") of the containers (R) is perpendicular to the axis of this movement.
    8. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
      characterised in that said identification phase is carried out in a zone between said second outlet zone (ZS2) and the first access zone (ZE1).
    9. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
      characterised in that the identification phase of tube (T) comprises an optoelectronic reading phase with simultaneously a placing in rotation of the tubes (T).
    10. Robot for automatic analysing samples contained in recipients disposed in containers, this analysis robot comprising a pipetting area (12) in which the previously identified sample recipients by means of identification means are disposed and above which a pipetting head (13) moves, characterised in that it comprises on both sides of the pipetting area (12), a first unit comprising two parallel linear conveyors (CB1, CB2) designed in such a way so as to transport the containers in line orientated along the displacement axis of said conveyors (CB1, CB2), and a second unit comprising at least two linear conveyors (CV1, CV2) perpendicular to the first ones and designed so as to transport the containers (R), orientated perpendicular to the displacement axis of these two conveyors (CV1, CV2), inside the pipetting area (12), the conveyors (CV1, CV2) of this second unit opening into the outlet/inlet transfer zones (ZE1, ZE2 - ZS1, ZS2) of the two conveyors (CB1, CB2) of the first unit, a processor being provided and in particular to control the movements of the pipetting head so as to to carry out samplings or injections of products in any recipient present in the pipetting area according to a programme depending of the type of analysis to be carried out, independent of the order in which the recipient has been introduced into the analysis robot.
    11. Robot according to claim 10,
      characterised in that it comprises a distributor delivering the containers one by one originating from a basket on one of the two conveyors (CB1, CB2) of the first unit.
    12. Robot according to one of the preceding claims,
      characterised in that the conveyors (CB1, CB2) of the first unit are belt conveyors whose belts are fitted with notches.
    13. Robot according to one of the claims 10 to 12,
      characterised in that the conveyors of the second unit comprise a guiding rail for guiding the rails, on both sides of which two drive strips (BE1, BE2 - BE'1, BE'2) are disposed and fitted with notches (15) whose pitch is approximately equal to the thickness of the containers (R).
    14. Robot according to claim 13,
      characterised in that said rail has an inverted Ω shape and co-operates with a T-shaped transversal prismatic cavity provided in the seat of the containers.
    15. Robot according to one of the claims 11 to 14,
      characterised in that the baskets disposed in the distributor (D) comprise an inverted Ω-shaped basket bottom rail which co-operates with said prismatic cavity of the containers (R).
    16. Robot according to claim 15,
      characterised in that said rail comprises a section (TR) with retractable wings (A1, A2).
    17. Robot according to one of the claims 10 to 16,
      characterised in that it comprises a recipients identification station situated between one inlet zone and one outlet zone of the pipetting area situated on one of the conveyors (CB1) of the first unit.
    18. Robot according to claim 17,
      characterised in that said identification station comprises on one side of the conveyor (CB1) an optoelectronic reading device (L), and on the other side a device (M) for driving the recipient in rotation.
    19. Robot according to claim 18,
      characterised in that the conveyor (CB1) associated with the reading device comprises upstream of this station a direct access zone of a container and/or a trap making it possible to extract or to arrange or to extract a recipient in a container located in the zone (ZS2).
    EP98930838A 1997-06-16 1998-06-11 Method for continuous or discontinuous automatic analysing of samples placed in containers Expired - Lifetime EP0922229B1 (en)

    Priority Applications (1)

    Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
    DK98930838T DK0922229T3 (en) 1997-06-16 1998-06-11 Method for continuous or discontinuous automatic analysis of samples contained in containers

    Applications Claiming Priority (3)

    Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
    FR9707751 1997-06-16
    FR9707751A FR2764703B1 (en) 1997-06-16 1997-06-16 PROCESS FOR THE AUTOMATIC CONTINUOUS OR DISCONTINUOUS ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES CONTAINED IN CONTAINERS
    PCT/FR1998/001223 WO1998058261A1 (en) 1997-06-16 1998-06-11 Method for continuous or discontinuous automatic analysing of samples placed in containers

    Publications (2)

    Publication Number Publication Date
    EP0922229A1 EP0922229A1 (en) 1999-06-16
    EP0922229B1 true EP0922229B1 (en) 2005-01-12

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    Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
    EP98930838A Expired - Lifetime EP0922229B1 (en) 1997-06-16 1998-06-11 Method for continuous or discontinuous automatic analysing of samples placed in containers

    Country Status (14)

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    US (1) US6355488B1 (en)
    EP (1) EP0922229B1 (en)
    JP (1) JP4349659B2 (en)
    CN (1) CN1122847C (en)
    AT (1) ATE287088T1 (en)
    AU (1) AU725277B2 (en)
    CA (1) CA2263535C (en)
    DE (1) DE69828575T2 (en)
    DK (1) DK0922229T3 (en)
    ES (1) ES2236913T3 (en)
    FR (1) FR2764703B1 (en)
    HK (1) HK1020775A1 (en)
    PT (1) PT922229E (en)
    WO (1) WO1998058261A1 (en)

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    BRPI0516900A (en) * 2005-02-05 2008-09-23 Beijing Yuande Bio Medical Eng microporous plate carrier and photon counter mechanism
    ATE462495T1 (en) * 2005-09-21 2010-04-15 Hoffmann La Roche HOLDER FOR CUVETTES, CUVETTE MATRIX AND ANALYZING DEVICE WITH THESE COMPONENTS
    EP1903325A3 (en) * 2006-09-21 2010-06-16 Kurashiki Boseki Kabushiki Kaisha Apparatus and method for preparing sliced specimen
    JP4972065B2 (en) * 2008-10-08 2012-07-11 日立アロカメディカル株式会社 Rack transport device
    JP5334643B2 (en) * 2009-03-30 2013-11-06 シスメックス株式会社 Urine sample analyzer
    ITMI20121218A1 (en) * 2012-07-12 2014-01-13 Inpeco Ip Ltd PROVISIONAL ACCOMMODATION STATION OF TRANSPORT DEVICES FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTAINERS
    US11454574B2 (en) 2012-11-07 2022-09-27 Beckman Coulter, Inc. Automated sample processing system
    WO2014144759A1 (en) 2013-03-15 2014-09-18 Abbott Laboratories Linear track diagnostic analyzer
    WO2014144825A2 (en) 2013-03-15 2014-09-18 Abbott Laboratories Automated reagent manager of a diagnostic analyzer system
    US9513303B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2016-12-06 Abbott Laboratories Light-blocking system for a diagnostic analyzer
    FR3015039B1 (en) 2013-12-12 2017-02-24 Stago Diagnostica METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE POSITION OF AT LEAST ONE CARTOGRAPHY PION
    US11378435B2 (en) * 2014-09-17 2022-07-05 Quest Diagnostics Investments Incorporated Device and method for evaluating amount of biological sample in a specimen container
    KR102586862B1 (en) 2016-10-28 2023-10-11 베크만 컬터, 인코포레이티드 Material Readiness Assessment System
    CN110529355B (en) * 2019-09-09 2021-05-28 英华达（上海）科技有限公司 Liquid amount control device and liquid amount control method using same

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    Also Published As

    Publication number Publication date
    CN1122847C (en) 2003-10-01
    AU725277B2 (en) 2000-10-12
    JP2000517064A (en) 2000-12-19
    CA2263535C (en) 2007-03-27
    PT922229E (en) 2005-05-31
    JP4349659B2 (en) 2009-10-21
    US6355488B1 (en) 2002-03-12
    HK1020775A1 (en) 2000-05-19
    ES2236913T3 (en) 2005-07-16
    CA2263535A1 (en) 1998-12-23
    DE69828575T2 (en) 2006-01-19
    EP0922229A1 (en) 1999-06-16
    WO1998058261A1 (en) 1998-12-23
    FR2764703B1 (en) 1999-08-20
    AU8113698A (en) 1999-01-04
    FR2764703A1 (en) 1998-12-18
    CN1234869A (en) 1999-11-10
    ATE287088T1 (en) 2005-01-15
    DE69828575D1 (en) 2005-02-17
    DK0922229T3 (en) 2005-05-09

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